Bonnet for railway-signal fusee-caps and method of making it



H. 0. BEMISDERFER. BONNET FOR RAILWAY SIGNAL FUSEE CAPS AND METHOD 0F MAKING IT.

.APPLICATION FILED IAN-2,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented J an. 13, 1920.

H. 0. BEMISDERFER.

BONNET FUR RAILWAY SIGNAL FUSEE- CAPS AND MEITHOD 0F MAKING IT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, I9I9.

ymmm Jan. 13 1920.

9 4 SHEETS-SHEET A TTORNE Y.

H. 0. BEIVIISDEHFER.

BONNET FOR RAILWAY SIGNAL FusEE cAPs AND METHOD 0F MAKING IT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN- 2, i919.

Patented J an. y13

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR.

A BY u l," ATTORNEY.

HVmMWmmIIIl/IIIAIIIIIL' Y, I m

H. 0. BEIVIISDERFER. BONNET FOR RAILWAY SIGNAL FUSEE CAPs AND METHOD OF MAKING IT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. ZI i919.

Patented J an. 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. UMTED 'STATES PATENT orrrcr..

HARVEY 0. BEMISDERFER, F FOSTORIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 CENTRAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, or JERSEY.`

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F NEW Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

. Application filed January 2, 191'9. Serial No. 269,304.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HARVEY O. BnMrs- DERFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bonnets for Railway-Signal Fuses-Caps and Methods of Making Them, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in bonnets for railway signal fusee caps and the method of making them, and the primary object of the invention is to make a 'bonnet out of a strip of paper and to so apply it to the cap that there are no folded or doubled parts of the paper strip located over the complementary igniting material of the cap which it is to cover and protect.

It has heretofore been proposed by patents and otherwise to make fusee bonnets of various constructions, Ibut in all the forms known to me wherein only a sheet or strip of paper is used, the strip or sheet is wrapped around the ca with a projecting tubu ar portion, which projecting portion is doubled and folded inward over the top of the complementary igniting composition on the end of the cap, the folds taking various angles. This latter form with the folded in -end over the igniting complementary material is the form that has been adopted by manufac. turers of railway signal fusees, and universally used by .them for a great number of years.

In railway signal fusees it is necessary to protect the complementary igniting material from moisture and dampness to which they are necessarily subjected, in order to prevent the complementary igniting material from being damaged by the moisture, so as to prevent it from serving its purpose of igniting the complementary igniting head of the fusee proper. For this reason in the manufacture of railway signal fusees the part of the bonnet covering the igniting material is subjected to a coating of waterproof composition, and this is usually applied while the Awater-proof composition is 'boiling or substantially boiling hot, landusually by dipping the cap end of the fusee in such liquid, and sometimes by dipping the whole fusee in said liquid.l It has been tion.

in tubular form found in practice that sometimes the folded parts of the bonnet are. opened up by this hot compound and some of it passes through the folds to the igniting material on the c ap,4and to thus prevent it from serving its purpose of igniting the complementary igniting head of the fusee by Vfrictional contact therewith.

With my improved bonnet, as hereinafter described, it is so constructed and so applied that there are no folds over the igniting composition through which the hotwater-proof compound can pass to the ignitn ing compound of the cap, and thusl prevent it from serving lits purpose. There are other advantages of my improved bonnet which will be pointed out in the specifical way signal fusee and its cap, showing one form of my improvement applied thereto.

Fig. 2 vis a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1; o

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the lirst step in the method of applying and making my improved bonnet with the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective plan view of the blank strip used in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4l, inclusive.

Fig. 6 is a perspective plan view of a modification of the blank.

Fig. 7 is a perspective plan View of another form of blank.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the form of blank shown in Fig. 6, applied to the fusee cap.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the mannerof applying the form of blank vshown in Fig. 6 to the fusee cap and the iirst s. p in the applying of the bonnet.

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of another form of blank, applied to the fuseecap 1n carrying out my present invention.

Fig. 12 is another form of blank strip used in Fig. 11.

13 is another form rying out my present invention.

Y, Those skilled in this art know that a rail.-

way signal fusee is composed of a paper tube `1, carryinga burning composition 2, capable of blank for car-` of burning substantially a predetermined period of time, for giving signals to railroad` mentary igniting head 3, and the other endlwith a spike 4 for'maintaining the fusee in an upright position when desired. It is also well-known to those skilled in this art that the complementary igniting material 3 is protected by a suitable cap 5, which also is made of paper and passing over and embraces the lighting end of the fusee, as shown in Fig. 2. These caps have their outer ends closed in several ways, and on their closed end is located a lighting composition 6, which is complementary to the igniting head 3, so that by frictional contact between the compositions 3 and 6, the lighting head is ignited by friction, like a safety match against the complementary materialA carried by the match box.

Those skilled in this art also know that it is common to protect the complementary lighting material 6 on the end of the cap 5, by covering it with a bonnet. My present improvement pertains to this bonnet. So far as my improved bonnet is concerned, the fusee cap 5 may have its end closed in any suitable manner. For illustrative purposes, the manner here shown is by means of a wooden button 7, which is quite largely used by manufacturers. Referring now to my improved bonnet, 1t is composed of a strip of paper, and this is applied to the end of the cap in a novel manner to cover and` protect the igniting compound 6, without anyfolds of paper thereover. The improved manner of applying. and forming my bonnet consists in prov1d1ng a J suitab y shaped strip of paper 8, which 1s applied by putting the strip across the closed end of the cap with the closed end of the cap resting on the strip intermediate its ends, as at 9, and the ends of the strlp 10 bent downward alongside'of the cap and cemented thereto.

It is also known to those skilled in the art that the portion of the bonnet which covers the igniting material is torn away by means of a plece of cloth that passes over the ignitlng material 6 'and under the'bonnet, and havlng a projecting end so that by pulling upward and backward on the strip of cloth that part of the paper bonnet covering the lgnltlng material will be torn away leaving 1t exposed to co-act with the ignitlng head for lighting the fusee.

In carrylng out my present improvement, I also use a cloth strip 11, which has one end'12 fastened in any desired manner and passes over theigniting material 6 with its other end 13 exposed to be grasped by the fingers for tearing away the top of the bonnet, as above described.

Where the end of the cap is closed by a button 7 the fastened end 12 of the cloth or tape is preferably located between the button and the cap, by placing it there when the button is applied, but the manner of securing one end lof the tape forms no part of my present improvement.

The specific form of blank disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 is a strip with cutaway portions 14, between the center portion 15 of the strip and its ends 16, the center portion 15 forming the covering portion 9 of Figs. 1 and 2, when the blank is applied. As shown in Fig. 4, as the blank is being applied, the ends 16 of the center 15 project outward and these are bent downward and folded in, as shown at 17, when the bonnet is completed.

The object of the cutaway portion 14 is to leave a space to expose the free end 13, of the tape 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 land 3. While both sides of the strip are shown cut out, as at 14, in Figs.' 1 to 5 inclusive, I desire it to be understood that only one side 14a needs to be cut out, as shown in blank 8a, Fig. 13, the other side 141 being straight.

In the form of blank shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the ends 16 .are provided suficiently long to project beyond the lower end ofthe cap 5, and to be pasted to the fusee 1, to hold the cap to the fusee. It is common to utilize the bonnet as a means of uniting the cap 2 to the fusee. In this construction the bonnet cannot be conveniently formed until the cap is placed on the fusee, so that the bonnet will be pasted to the cap and to the fusee at the same time.

There are certain advantages in providing a finished cap with its bonnet independent of the fusee so that they may be kept in stock, and applied to the fusee as a con1- pleted unit, and that is sometimes done. In this latter case the ,cap is fastened to the fusee by a separate strip of paper pasted around the lower end of the cap and to the adjacent part of the fusee. When it is desired to complete the cap and bonnet as a unit, I omit the'ends 16 from the blank, as shown in Fig. ..6 and in this case the cap is a completed article with the tape in position and applied to the cap in the manner heretofore described, and then the cap 5 is applied to the fusee by an additional strip 18, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

Aform of blank 8b, as shown in Fig. 7, may be used which comprises' a strip with straight edges and inwardly extending slits 19, which form the center portion 15n and the ends 20. The ends 2O may be fonly of a length corresponding to the length of the portions 10 of Figs.,5 and 6, so that the cap will be provided .with a bonnet and completed as a unit before it is applied to the and connecting the cap to the fusee, as shown in' Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The object of forming the cutaway portions 14, at opposite sides of the blank, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, instead of at one side only, as in Fig. 13, and of forming the slits 19 at both sides of the blank in Fig. 7, is to facilitate assembling of the bonnet in that the operator does not have to match the cutaway or slitted side of the blank with the extended free end of the cloth or tape. It wi1l,therefore,be understood that,if desired, the slits 19` may be provided at only one side of the blank in Fig. 7. j

In Figs. 11 and 12, I show a simpler form of strip from any heretofore described, in that the strip 8c is with straight edges and it is applied and folded, as shown in those figures. In applying this form of blank, the

free end 11 of the cloth is held outward while the blank is folded in under it, as shown at 20, and then the folded portion is bent downward and pasted in its downward bent position, and the side opposite the free end of the tape is folded and bent downward in the same manner as shown at 21.

iFrom the foregoing description, it will be observed that in all the forms shown, there is an unbroken or unfolded portion 9 covering the igniting material 6, and operating las and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

Attention is directed to the 'fact that the width of the strip of paper is approximately half the circumference of the cap so that its ends will substantially extend around the cap, and so that itsl center portion is wider than the diameter of the cap to extend beyond it, as at 16, and to form downwardly extended folded portions 17, which carries the beginning of the exposed part of the tape 13. below the unfolded top 9 of the bonnet.

' I do i ot wish it to be understood that I have shown all of the specific forms of blanks that may be used to carry out my improvement, the primary feature of which is to form a bonnet of a strip of paper and apply it to the ca by extending it across the closed end of t e cap, and doubling its ends down and pasting them to the sides of the cap, whereby there is a closed and unfolded portion of the strip over and protecting the igniting material of the cap.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet comprising a strip of paper having its center extending across the closed end of the cap, its ends bent downward along the sides of and cemented to the side of the "cap and a tearing member extending between the bonnet and the closed end of the cap in a direction transverse the strip and having an exposed end whereby the bonnet is free from folds over the end of the cap.

2. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet comprising a strip of paper extending across and engaging the cap at a point intermediate its ends and its ends extended downward and attached to the cap, a tearing member extending across the end of the cap and under the bonnet, the sides of the strip cut away for the passage of the free end of the tearing member, for the purpose described.

8. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet' consisting of a narrow elongated strip extending across the closed end of thel cap and its ends extended down and attached to the side ofthe cap, and a tearing member extending across the end of the cap in a direction y transverse the strip and having the free end extending outward below the top of the bonnet.

4. A railway signalfusee cap bonnet com'- prising an elongated strip having an intermediate width greater than the diameter of the cap with its center portion extending across the end of the cap and the ends of the strip extending downsalongside of and attached to the side of the cap, a tearing member extending across the end of the cap .in a direction transverse the said strip and 'having an end extending beyond the adjacent side of the strip, the center projecting sides of the strip folded downward at the side of the capl just below its closed end 5. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet comprising an elongated strip, its intermediate portion extending across and'covering the end of the cap, the intermediate portion and ends of the strip being of a width greater than the diameter of the cap, whereby the intermediate portion will extend beyond the side of the cap and its ends will be around the sides of the cap, a tearing member extending across the end of the cap under the intermediate portion of the strip and having an end extending beyond the adjacent side of the strip,- the sides of the intermediate portion of the strip folded downward below the end of the cap.

6. A railway signal fusee cap having a bonnet applied thereto, comprising an elongated strip with its center portion extending across and covering the ends of the cap, the strip having its .edge cut out at opposite sides of the center, the ends of the strip extending down and attached to the side of the cap, a tearing member extending across the end of the cap in a direction transverse the said strip and having an end extending beyond the strip at the cut away side thereof, for the purpose described.

7 A railway signal fusee cap bonnetcomthe end of the cap with its ends extending down-the side of the capv and of a length projecting below the inner end of the cap whereby the ends of thestrip may be attached to the cap and to the fusee, a tearing member extending across the end of the cap in a direction transverse the strip and having an end extending beyond the side of the strip, the side of the strip folded downward at its center and at the end of the cap, for the purpose described.

8. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet comprising an elongated strip having a relatively -wide center and end portions, a relatively narrow ortion intermediate the center and ends, t e center'portion of the strip applied across the end of the cap and the ends of the strip extending downward and attached to the side of the cap and fusee.

9. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet comprising an elongated strip having a relatively wide intermediate portion and a reduced portion beyond its center portion, the center portion applied across the end of cap and the ends attached to the side of the cap and a tearing member extending across the end of the cap in a direction transverse the strip, the center portion of the strip projecting beyond the cap and. folded down-4 ward, for theipurpose described.

10. A railway signal fusee cap bonnet, comprising a strip of material extending across the end of the cap and havin its ends extended down at opposite sides o the cap and attached thereto, and a tearing member passing between the end of the cap and the said strip and having, an exposed end, for the purpose describe In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

HARVEY O. BEMISDERFER. 

